Elkins said it’s unfair for non-elected officials to be able to raise taxes and wants state legislators to look into the authority of special taxing districts and “their lack of oversight.”

“State auditor Adam Edelen, that was his signature issue as the state auditor. He called them ‘ghost governments.’ I think he was correct, I think at that time the state legislature didn’t go as far on reforms for special taxing districts as they could have," said Elkins.

Elkins said he would seek reforms not specific to libraries, but all special taxing districts.

The Kentucky legislature passed a bill in 2013 that established audit requirements for these districts and required an annual budget and to publicize where the adopted budget and other financial information relating to the district may be found.

Elkins is running unopposed in the May primary. He will face Democrat Dave Ramey in the November election. Kentucky's 5th house district includes Calloway County and part of Trigg County.